LJ Smith Stair Systems - Many Styles and Species I've used LJ Smith stair systems for decades. The one in the last home I built for my family was stunning. Here's a photo of the staircase in my last house going from the entrance hall to the second floor. Tim mentioned using LJ Smith Stair […]
QUESTION: Howdy, Tim. Well, I really need your advice. I’m thinking of re-siding my house and it’s time to bite the bullet about repairing a structural issue that’s been getting worse each year. The floor in my living room has sagged two inches! The cause has been traced to a support column in between my […]
QUESTION: Tim, I was spending a lazy weekend afternoon gazing at countless photos of actual treehouses that one could live in. I was intrigued and am seriously thinking of building one. Mind you, I’m not talking about some little box kids might play in and use a clubhouse. I’m talking a real two-bedroom home with […]
theOUTlet - Clever Device But... I had a chance to study a new quadplex outlet called theOUTlet. Most electrical outlets in your home are duplex outlets meaning you can plug in two things at the same time. TheOUTlet comes in two varieties - one with and one without USB charging slots. The inventors of theOUTLET […]
Shovel Choices 101 - Which One To Use QUESTION: Mr. Tim, this past week I wasted all sorts of time and got frustrated trying to dig a simple hole in my yard. A neighbor looked over the fence and suggested I change shovels. Anyway, I figured you’ve used lots of shovels in your career and […]
Crumbling Concrete Foundation - Easy DIY Repair QUESTION: Hey Tim. I watched your three-part video series on patching a concrete foundation on your website. It’s exactly what I needed to help me repair the cosmetic crumbling of my concrete. I’ve got questions. Will that method work to also patch defects in steps and flat […]
Replace A Foundation - Just Lift Up the House QUESTION: I’m thinking of buying a house that has a crawlspace. The foundation is in very bad shape. While the house looks quite bad, it’s got good bones. Is it possible to completely remove a bad foundation and install a new taller one? What’s involved? Who […]
"The building code is not a set of recommendations. It’s a pass/fail document. Something either meets code or it doesn’t. There’s no gray area." Certificate of Occupancy NH - Don't Issue Until All is OK QUESTION 2: Tim, I’m at my wit's end. My builder thinks my new house is finished but there are numerous […]
The Coefficient of Continuity Origin - Building Lore Truth I was an active builder and remodeler for over twenty years. I can tell you that customers come in all different varieties as well as sizes. There are your quiet customers, there are the ones that require sedatives, there are some that are happy, there are […]
Old Building vs New Building - Interesting Debate! You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” Often it’s said in frustration when a newer product fails long before you might think it should. If I could wave a magic wand and be a teacher in a vocational school dedicated to […]
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